TOWCESTER kicked off the KAB Maiden Derby with eight qualifying heats over 500m on Sunday, ahead of the first round proper this week.

The Paul Whitwood-trained Swift Loves was fastest in heat six when scoring in 29.70sec (-30), albeit there was not much between all the heat winners on a day the RPGTV Juvenile, the prestigious £5,000-the-winner one-off, took centre-stage at the Northamptonshire venue.

Leading into the first bend off the back of a slick 4.25sec sectional, Yarmouth raider Swift Loves was never headed as the November 2020 daughter of King Elvis and Swift Bach crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Brinkleys Magic (Tom Heilbron) and Naney Jezabelle (Keith Robins).

Training honours on the day went to Monmore trainer Pat Doocey as he landed a double courtesy of heat one winner Longacres Pele (Vulturi-Amanita Chic, Aug 2020), who finished best to score in 29.76sec (-30), while Longacres Nutty (Ballymac Bolger-Clear Mountain, Jan 2021) made all in heat five in 29.73sec (-30).

The other KAB Maiden Derby heats were won by Mark Wallis’s Crossfield Cora (29.83sec -30), Jason Heath’s Hopes Rhino (pictured, 29.76sec – 30), Carol Grasso’s Tommys Lotto (29.83sec -30), Michelle Brown’s Swift Hipster (29.94sec -30) and Richard Rees’s Tommys Kingdom (29.94sec – 20).

Towcester racing manager Andy Lisemore said: “We had plenty of quality on show on Sunday – not just in the RPGTV Juvenile. Some were saying there were just as many Derby clues in the Maiden Derby heats as the Juvenile.

“You’d expect plenty of improvement from a lot of them. There’s certainly plenty of unexposed types in the competition, many of whom were having their first Towcester experience, and for many it was just about making sure they qualified into the first round proper – although I’m not sure we’re closer to pinning down the likely winner.

“In fact what strikes you is how timewise there’s hardly anything between all eight winners really. Well done to Pat Doocey for his double and also to Paul Whitwood with Swift Loves clocking the fastest time. I’d also like to mention Roy Peckham’s Victor Maximus who posted the fastest split, a rapid 4.14sec, when edged out by Tommys Lotto.

“The pair go head to head again in heat four on Sunday, which is one of four cracking heats we have for the Maiden Derby. We’re looking forward to those, plus once again will be staging more trial stakes for the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby. Interest in these races is also picking up. It’s a busy time!”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=395603&raceId=927020

Trap draw for the KAB Maiden Derby heats: https://towcester-racecourse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MDER.pdf